Sun, Oct 21, 2007
AOPA's Boyer Writes FAA Over New Language In NOTAMS
Pilots who routinely
violate airspace temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) might find
themselves in jail... and worse yet, ruin flying for those who are
more careful and fly by the rules.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) say the
addition of new language to Temporary Flight Restriction NOTAMS,
that informs pilots of criminal penalties, is too blunt.
"Any person who knowingly or willfully violates the rules
concerning operations in this airspace is subject to certain
criminal penalties under 49 USC 46307" is the new way the FAA
states what most pilots already knew. But AOPA thinks this is too
much.
"The FAA has always had the ability to assess these types of
charges, but it has never stated it so bluntly," the pilot advocacy
group writes.
AOPA president Phil Boyer sent a letter to the FAA earlier this
month to ensure that inadvertent violation of TFRs won't land
pilots in jail or bankrupt them with large civil penalties.
"Security-related flight restrictions can occur virtually
anywhere in the country with little advance notice. It is not
uncommon that the average pilot has to pick through pages and pages
of irrelevant and unrelated NOTAMS to find these important airspace
restrictions," Boyer wrote to acting FAA Administrator Bobby
Sturgell.
Boyer stresses pilots must do their part and be aware of new
rules, and know the law.
"We work to prevent unnecessary TFRs. The ones that are in place
are intended to protect national security," Boyer said. "We must do
our part to abide by these rules-no excuses, no exceptions."
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